What does the General suddenly realize that he "wants?"

In Chapter Five, General Macarthur realizes that he doesn't want to leave the island.

Funny, just this minute he didn't want much to get away from the island... To go back to the mainland, back to his little house, back to all the troubles and worries. Through the open window he could hear the waves breaking on the rocks - a little louder now than earlier in the evening. Wind was getting up, too.

He thought: "Peaceful sound. Peaceful place..."

He thought: "Best of an island is once you get there - you can't go any further... you've come to the end of things..."